Problem Children, Move Out!

Meanwhile, beside the vending machines outside the gymnasium.

Compared to the clamor inside, it was so quiet here that only the cicadas could be heard.

Akira Sendoh dropped in a coin and watched a can of lemon tea roll down.

"Phew... It's too noisy in there."

He bent down to pick up the drink and popped the tab with a click.

Tilting his head back, he took a gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing.

The cool liquid slid down his throat, taking away some of the heat.

"Looks like you're taking it easy, Sendoh."

A deep, resonant voice suddenly sounded behind him.

Sendoh's fingers paused slightly.

That voice...

He turned around. The trademark gentle smile on his face froze for an instant before turning into surprise.

Standing not far away was a dark-skinned man in a purple tracksuit jacket, his presence as commanding as that of an emperor.

Hainan Affiliated High School's ace, Kanagawa's king—Shinichi Maki.

"Maki?"

Sendoh was somewhat surprised. "I didn't expect you to come watch a first-round game like this too."

With both hands in his pockets, Shinichi Maki looked at Sendoh with deep-set eyes.

"I was just passing by,"

Shinichi Maki said flatly.

Then his tone shifted, and his gaze sharpened. "But since we ran into each other, there's something I'd like to ask."

He took a step forward, his imposing presence bearing down on Sendoh.

"This year's Shohoku..."

"How exactly did they beat your Ryonan?"

Sendoh froze for a moment, then gave a bitter smile.

In his mind appeared that figure who always wanted to slack off on the court, yet was absurdly strong.

"How did they win..."

Sendoh shook the lemon tea in his hand.

His gaze turned toward the gymnasium entrance, as though he could see the scene inside through the walls.

"Probably because they have someone who wants to slack off even more than I do, yet is strong like a monster."

Shinichi Maki raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Stronger than you?"

Sendoh smiled, his expression meaningful.

"Who knows?"

"But A-Maki, this year's Kanagawa..."

"I'm afraid it'll be far livelier than you imagine."

Swish!

The basketball traced a stiff but straight arc and dropped cleanly through the net.

Takenori Akagi stood at the free-throw line, his chest heaving violently.

He wiped away the sweat flowing into his eyes, his blade-like gaze sweeping over Miuradai's half of the court.

Second free throw.

Akagi took a deep breath, adjusted his breathing, and shot again.

Swish!

Another clean basket.

Two free throws made.

"Heh, that guy's free throws have gotten more accurate."

"They used to be hard as rocks."

In the stands, Hisashi Mitsui raised an eyebrow, and the bandage at the corner of his mouth moved with it.

"Defense!!"

Akagi let out a furious roar after landing, making the floor hum.

However, Miuradai's counterattack came swiftly.

They did not panic because of Akagi's points.

Instead, they quickly launched a fast break through the gap created by Shohoku's substitutes failing to get back on defense in time.

Kengo Murasame was like a heavy tank, barging past the skinny Kakuta before scoring on a reverse layup.

The gap remained in double digits.

The atmosphere at courtside grew somewhat heavy.

Coach Anzai adjusted his gleaming glasses. A sharp glint flashed through those eyes that were usually smiling.

He slowly turned around and looked at the row of "bench thugs" sitting every which way behind him.

"Hehehe..."

Coach Anzai let out his trademark laugh.

"Well? Have you reflected on yourselves?"

Those words seemed to break some kind of seal.

"Old man!!"

Hanamichi Sakuragi shot up from the floor, his face flushed red, as excited as a monkey spotting a banana.

"I reflected on it ages ago!"

"I've already deeply realized my mistake!"

"That mistake was that keeping a genius off the court is a loss for all humanity!"

"Put me in!"

"I'm gonna beat the shit out of that mohawk bastard!!"

Ryota Miyagi stood up as well, his face serious.

"Coach Anzai, I reflected too."

"Fighting is wrong, especially on the court."

"But I promise that if you put me in, I'll make them shut up with basketball."

Kaede Rukawa silently pulled the towel off his head, revealing a pair of icy eyes.

"Not a problem."

He was sparing with words, but the fighting spirit in his eyes was already about to overflow.

"I won't do it again."

"A team that only knows dirty tricks is damn irritating to watch."

"Coach, let me go teach them what basketball is." Hisashi Mitsui rolled his wrist, his gaze sharp.

Four people, four completely different auras, now converged into a terrifying pressure.

Coach Anzai nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze toward the farthest corner.

"Lin Bei?" Coach Anzai called with a smile.

"I've been ready for a while."

"As for fighting, well, that's hard to say." Lin Bei grinned crookedly.

"Hehehe, Lin Bei is quite humorous."

Coach Anzai waved a large hand. "Then, substitutions."

"Akagi, you all come down and rest."

"Sakuragi, you'll replace Akagi at center."

"Everyone else, get on the court."

Beep—!

"Shohoku requests substitutions!"

With the referee's whistle, the air in the entire Fujisawa Gymnasium seemed to freeze for an instant.

Takenori Akagi and the sweat-soaked substitutes walked off the court.

Behind them, five figures slowly made their way toward center court.

At that moment, the once-noisy gymnasium suddenly fell silent.

These five had a completely different vibe from the well-behaved Shohoku team that had been on the court just now.

At the front was Hanamichi Sakuragi. His red hair was glaringly conspicuous beneath the lights, and his face wore a savage grin that seemed to say, "I'm going to kill someone."

Beside him, Ryota Miyagi's earring flashed coldly. He strode with swagger, his face full of defiance.

Although Hisashi Mitsui had cut his hair short, that former delinquent aura still lingered around him, and his gaze was gloomy.

Kaede Rukawa was expressionless, radiating an icy aura that warned strangers to stay away.

And Lin Bei, walking last, was still yawning.

Yet those half-lidded dead-fish eyes of his held a depth that no one could see through.

"Shohoku..."

"Did they drag out everyone from prison yard time?"

In the stands, a spectator could not help swallowing.

"They're here, they're here! The strongest problem-child squad!"

"That lineup! That terrifying lineup is finally appearing!"

Aida Hikoichi from Ryonan was so excited he nearly crushed the railing.

"Hmph, they finally decided to let the beasts out of their cage." Jun Uozumi folded his arms, his expression solemn.

Akira Sendoh put down his lemon tea and leaned forward slightly.

An interested curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh?"

"The problem children are all going out..."

"Now this will be fun."